New Report from NDIA and MITRE Explores How AI Can Transform Federal Acquisition

New Report from NDIA and MITRE Explores How AI Can Transform Federal Acquisition

ARLINGTON, VA – A new report from the National Defense Industrial Association’s Emerging Technologies Institute (ETI) and the MITRE Corporation outlines how artificial intelligence (AI) can improve the Department of Defense’s acquisition system and support the workforce behind it.

Titled “Accelerating the Future: Leveraging AI for Transformative Federal Acquisition,” the May 2025 report identifies where AI can streamline acquisition processes—such as contract writing and market research—and where cultural, technical, and policy barriers must be addressed.

Key Takeaways:

• AI can reduce administrative burdens, freeing professionals to focus on strategic decisions.
• Cultural resistance and workforce concerns must be met with training and change management.
• Infrastructure gaps and complex approval processes continue to delay scalable adoption.
• Success depends on leadership support, pilot programs, and clear evaluation metrics.

Recommendations include launching targeted pilot projects, investing in R&D and data infrastructure, promoting digital literacy, and developing standard metrics for success.

To further discuss the findings, ETI Associate Research Fellow Wilson Miles and MITRE Senior Acquisition Analyst Christopher Barlow appeared on the “Facing Disruption” podcast. Watch: https://youtu.be/jQlC7ozUHRU

Read the full report: EmergingTechnologiesInstitute.org/publications/research-papers/accelerating-the-future

Want to go deeper? Join us at the Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference and Exhibition this August 27-29 in Washington, D.C. Learn more and register: NDIATechExpo.org

Contact:
Rachel Sutherland
NDIA Director of PR & Communications
rsutherland@NDIA.org